Pencil attachment



Sep t. 15, 1931.

L. M. MARKOWITZ Filed March 17, 1931 Patented Sept. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT Y OFFICE PENCIL ATTACHMENT Application filed March 17, 1931 Serial No. 523,305.

My invention relates to improvements in an attachment for pencils wherein a cap, adapted to detachably engage either end of a, pencil, is provided with a blade movable from a normally inoperative position to an operative pencil sharpening position, said cap also being provided with a clip, normally operative to clip the attachment and pencil to a pocket, and with means to receive and hold an eraser. v i

The .primary object of my invention is to provide an improved attachment for pencils to provide a combined pencil clip and sharpener. Another object is to provide an improved pencil attachment provided with a sharpener blade normally disposed in an inoperative position and movable to an operative sharpening position when desired.

A further object is to provide an improved device of the character described provided with means for mounting an eraser.

A further object is to provide a combined clip and sharpener wherein a clip member is directly associated with a movablesharpening blade and is movable thereby between operative and inoperative positions.

A further object is to provide an improved device embodying improved details of construction and arrangement afiording simple and efficient construction and operation.

I accomplish these and-other objects as hereinafter appearing by means of the improved device disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present application,

. wherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar parts throughout the specification and drawings, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved attachment as applied upon a pencil;

Fig. 2 is a vertical mid-sectional view of the attachment taken at right angles to the position shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with'the blade moved to operative sharpening position;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken upon the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 in the direction indi cated, the figure being drawn upon a larger scale Figure 5 is a bottom view of the attachment, drawn upon an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 6 is a broken transverse sectional view, taken upon the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 in the direction indicated, and drawn upon an enlar ed scale.

Re erring to thejdrawings, in improved attachment com rises a hollow tu ular sleeve 1, arranged to t upon the end of a pencil 5. A head 2 is rotatabl mounted upon one end of the sleevel. T e head 2 is preferably assembled upon the sleeve 1 by spinnin a flange 3 thereon to enga e an outwardly isposed annular flange 4 ormed upon the end of the sleeve. The outer end of the head 2 is provided with a recess 6 arrangedto receive a suitable eraser 7 seating within the recess and heldthereby upon the head.

The blade 8 is pivotally mounted, as at 9, within one side of the sleeve, said blade pref? erably being received within a slot 11 formed longitudinally in the sleeve 1. The free end of the blade 8 is engaged within a cam groove 12 formed upon the innerend of the head 2. The groove 12 is shaped, preferably in the form of a spiral, to impart a pivotal movement to the blade 8 when the head 2 is rotated relative to the sleeve 1, said groove be ing arranged to move -the blade between operative and inoperative positions as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 2' respectively.

The blade 8 is normally held in the inoperative osition shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Iii this position the blade 8 is received within the slot 11 with its cutting edge 8 disposed in proximate parallel relation to the pencil.

In the operative sharpeningposition the blade 8 inclines inwardly to a point slightly past the axis of the pencil whereby relative rotation of the sleeve and pencil will cause the cutting edge 8 to trim the end of the pencil to a tapered point. The back of the lade 8 is preferably provided with an angularly disposed rib 8" to afl'ord strength and rigidity to the blade. The back rib 8" is received within a notch 13 formed in the flange 3 to match with the slot 11 when the blade is moved to its normal inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 2.

A clip 14 is connected to the blade 8 adjacent to the pivot 9, said clip 14 preferably being formed integrally with the blade and extending in substantially axial alinement therewith past the pivot 9. The clip 14 is pivotally movable with-the blade. In the normal position of the blade 8, the clip 14 extends along the side of the pencil 5 in relatively close relation thereto, said clip being adapted to be sprung outwardly sufficiently to engage the material along the edge of a pocket to clip the attachment thereto. When the blade 8 is moved to its operative position, the clip 14 is swung away from the pencil, as shown in Fig. 3, whereby the sleeve may be rotated relative to the pencil without interference by the clip.

In operation, my improved attachment is normally placed upon the unsharpened end of a pencil 5, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the blade 8 being moved to its inoperative position in proximate parallel relation to the pencil and embraced within the slot 11. In this position, the clip 14 is held in its operative position, and as the pencil and attachment is placed in a pocket, the clip engages the garment along the edge of the pocket and effectually secures the pencil and attachment thereto. If desired, the pencil may be reversed, and the pointed end inserted into the sleeve 1, thereby protecting the point while it is being carried in the pocket, or while the pencil is not in use.

When it is desired to sharpen the pencil, the attachment is removed from the pencil and the head 2 is rotated relative to the sleeve 1 sufiiciently to cause the cam groove 12 to shift the blade 8 to its operative position. As the head is rotated, the wall of the groove 12 engages the back of the blade 8. and operates to move the free end of the blade inwardly to a point slightly past the axis of the pencil. The inward movement of the end of the blade is limited by the end of the groove 12, and when the blade reaches its limit of movement, a further rotation of the head causes the blade 8 and sleeve 1 to be rotated therewith relative to the pencil. The relative rotation of the blade 8 and pencil 1 causes the end of the pencil to be trimmed off to a tapered point, as shown in Fig. 3.

When the pencil has been sharpened, the head 2 is rotated in the opposite direction relative to the sleeve, thereby causing the cam groove 12 to return the blade to its normal inoperative position, and permitting the attachment to he slipped onto the unsharpened end of the pencil, in which position it serves as a pencil clip and eraser mounting until again required as a sharpener.

While I have illustrated and described only one specific embodiment of my invention, the device is, of course, subject to modification in numerous specific details of construction and arrangement without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore do not wish to be restricted to the specific details of construction illustrated and de' scribed, but desire to avail myself of all modifications which may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An attachment for pencils comprising a cap adapted to fit onto an end of a pencil; a blade pivotally mounted upon the cap, said blade being movable from a normal inoperative position in proximate parallel relation to the pencil to an operative sharpening position inclining toward the axis of the pencil in which position relative rotation of the cap and pencil will operate to sharpen the pencil; and means for moving the blade between its operative and inoperative positions.

2. An attachment for pencils comprising a cap adapted to fit onto an end of a pencil; a blade pivotally mounted upon the cap, said blade being movable from a normal inoperative position in proximate parallel relation to the pencil to an operative sharpening position inclining toward the axis of the pencil in which position relativerotation of the cap and pencil will operate to sharpen the pencil; and a cam engaging the blade and movable to shift the blade between its operative and inoperative positions.

3. An attachment for pencils comprising a cap adapted to detachably fit upon an end of a pencil in rotatable engagement therewith, said cap comprising a sleeve portion to receive the end of the pencil and a head portion rotatable relative to the sleeve portion; a blade pivotally mounted upon the sleeve portion; and means upon the head portion and engaging the blade to move the same between operative and inoperative positions.

4. An attachment for pencils comprising a cap adapted to detachably fit upon an end of a pencil in rotatable engagement therewith, said cap comprising a sleeve portion to receive-the end of the pencil and a head portion rotatable relative to the sleeve portion;

a blade pivotally mounted upon the sleeve portion; means upon the head portion and engaging the blade to move the same between operative and inoperative positions; anda clip carried by the blade and movable therewith between operative and inoperative positions.

5. An attachment for pencils comprising a cap adapted to detachably fit upon an end of a pencil in rotatable engagement therewith, said cap comprising a slotted sleeve portion to receive the end of the pencil and a head portion rotatable relative to the sleeve portion; a blade pivotally mounted within the slot of the sleeve portion; and a cam Ill upon the head portion engaging the blade to move the same between operative and inoperative positions in proximate parallel relation to the pencil and in inclining relation to the axis of the pencil respectively.

6. An attachment for pencils comprising a cap adapted to detachably fit upon an end of a pencil in rotatable engagement therewith, said cap comprising a slotted sleeve portion to receive the end of the pencil and a head portion rotatable relative to the sleeve portion; a blade pivotally mounted within the slot of the sleeve portion; a cam upon the head ortion engaging the blade to move the same between operative and inoperative positions in proximate parallel relation to the pencil and in inclining relation to the axis of the pencil respectively; and means upon the head portion to receive and hold an eraser.

7. An attachment for encils comprising a cap adapted to detacha ly fit upon an end of a pencil in rotatable engagement therewith, said cap comprising a slotted sleeve portion to receive the end of the pencil and a head portion rotatable relative to the sleeve portion; a blade pivotally mounted within the slot of the sleeve ortion; a cam upon the head'portion engaging the blade to 'move the same between operative and inoperative positions in proximate parallel relation to the pencil and in inclinin relation to the axis of the pencil respective y; and an extension formed upon the blade and normally disposed in proximate relation to the pencil when the blade is in inoperative position to form a clip whereby the pencil and attachment may be clipped to a pocket.

8. An attachment for pencils comprising a tubular sleeve adapted to detachably and rotatably fit upon an end of a pencil, said sleeve having a longitudinally disposed slot in one side thereof; a head rotatably mounted upon one end of the sleeve; a blade pivotally mounted upon the sleeve within the slot thereof; a cam upon the inner end of the head and engaging the adjacent end of the blade to move theblade pivotally, between a normal inoperative osition in proximate parallel relation to t e pencil and an inwardly inclining sharpening position, when the head is rotated relative to the sleeve, said sleeve and head being rotatable together relative to the pencil for moving the blade to sharpen the pencil when in operative position.

9. An attachment for pencils com risin a tubular sleeve adapted to detachab y an rotatably fit upon an end of a pencil, said sleeve having a longitudinally disposed slot in one side thereof; a head rotatably mounted upon oneend of the sleeve; a blade pivotally mounted upon the sleeve within the slot thereof; a cam upon the inner end of the head and engaging the adjacent .end of the blade to move the blade pivotally, between a notposition whereby the pencil and attachment may be clipped to a pocket.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my s1gnature.

LOUIS M. MARKOWITZ. 

